MacPhail suggests how Biola could increase off-campus fraternization through more versatile social groups. | Job Ang/THE CHIMES

There are two types of commuters on the campus of Biola University: those who live off campus but close enough so that it is only a two-minute drive away and those who live in distant cities where it takes more than the desired 10-minute driving time to get to school. Many of the close-to-campus commuters have their roots from a previous Biola dorm-life experience. But those who have lived off campus for all four years of college are plagued with a different kind of pain than the common complaint of roommate or apartment selection.

Not only do commuters have to start their day about an hour earlier than the rest of Biola — they also pay large sums of money for the ever-increasing gas prices and the wear and tear on their cars. Unfortunately, the decision to live off campus may ultimately equal the on-campus living expenses. The only advantage to living off campus is that the cost is spread out over the semester. For commuters, being without the luxury of quickly running back to a dorm room means there is no safe or convenient way to store school books and laptops or even to rest.

Struggling to integrate both communities

This raises the point of the commuters’ Collegium — it seems like a good solution in theory, but it does not always have the desired effect of practical convenience. The Collegium has a price of $90 per year for access to an on-campus common room with couches, a kitchen and a place to study, but it simply does not make sense financially since the commuters are already paying for gas along with tuition fees. These aforementioned issues are common complaints for students who live off campus — but there is also the issue of social opportunities.

Ultimately, there needs to be more integration within commuter life and the on-campus dorm life. With the dorm events scheduled throughout the year, it is easier to gain a meaningful social network by living on campus. Through classes and other social connections, friendships for commuters are inevitable — but there is the absence of the well-known “dorm bond” that ultimately unites the on-campus Biola students with everyone on their floor.

The Collegium does offer commuter events but these are exclusive to commuters and further separates the campus community. However, separated events are not what the campus needs, it needs some form of organization that will bond the whole campus, commuters and on-campus students.

Need for events to encourage bonding

Although rightfully excluded from Biola, secular universities offer social opportunities such as sororities and fraternities that allow people to create the strong and unique college bonds that are similar to the dorm experience at Biola. Instead of the alcohol and party-filled social events of secular colleges, Biola could offer students a more conservative form of sororities and fraternities that would create the form of unity that Biola needs between commuters and those living on-campus.

Frequently, commuters do not take advantage of the events and clubs already offered; however, it is not a lack of interest but rather a conflict of convenience. These events are scheduled around the on-campus life, usually late at night or on weekends, making it difficult for most commuters to join in. Furthermore, most of the social gatherings are once-in-a-while events and are not likely to encourage close bonds.

Offering social societies

Alternatively, Biola could offer a program to everyone, that is similar to sorority/fraternity-like organizations, and centered around making on-campus connections. These Christ-centered social societies should focus on common interests, such as philanthropic or mission work, while including opportunities for extended social involvement, such as planning mixers and other get-togethers.

These options would be readily available to students who live off campus as well as on-campus and would stretch over the span of a semester or longer to provide the opportunity for Biola students to get to know one another better. So rather than keeping dorms and commuter life segregated, there needs to be an initiative of programs that will bring everyone together for a more unified school and a more meaningful college experience.